Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens Game 7

The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens will decide the last Eastern Conference final berth on Monday, May 18, when they meet in Game 7 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The winner moves on to play the Carolina Hurricanes, who have already advanced and secured home-ice advantage in the next round. NHL.com said the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports. Buffalo forced the deciding game with an 8-3 road win over Montreal in Game 6 on Saturday, May 16. Rasmus Dahlin finished with one goal and four assists, Tage Thompson had four points, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 18 shots in relief after the Sabres rallied from a 3-1 first-period deficit, according to NHL.com. (nhl.com) ### How did this series get pushed to a seventh game? Game 6 turned on Buffalo’s run of seven straight goals after Montreal built an early two-goal lead at Bell Centre. NHL.com’s game report said Jason Zucker scored late in the first period to cut the deficit to 3-2, Zach Benson tied it 1:00 into the second, and the Sabres took control from there with power-play goals from Jack Quinn and Zach Metsa and an empty-netter from Thompson. (nhl.com) The 8-3 final also reset the timing of the next round. USA Today reported that Buffalo’s Game 6 win pushed the start of the Eastern Conference final back by two days because the NHL had prepared separate schedule scenarios depending on whether the series ended in six or seven games. (nhl.com) ### What is at stake for Buffalo and Montreal on Monday night? The winner of Monday’s game advances to the Eastern Conference final against Carolina, the Metropolitan Division champion. NHL Public Relations said on May 14 that if the Sabres-Canadiens series went seven games, the East final would begin Thursday, May 21, in Raleigh rather than Tuesday, May 19. (usatoday.com) Carolina reached the round earlier and entered Monday unbeaten in the playoffs. NHL.com said the Hurricanes are 8-0 this postseason and have allowed 10 goals in those eight games, with Frederik Andersen posting a 1.12 goals-against average and a.950 save percentage. (nhl.com) ### What exactly has the NHL already put on the calendar? NHL.com published the full conference-final schedule on May 17 after the semifinal matchups were set except for the Buffalo-Montreal result. The Eastern Conference final listing shows Carolina hosting Game 1 on Thursday, May 21, and Game 2 on Saturday, May 23, before the series shifts to either Buffalo or Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on May 25 and May 27. (nhl.com) The same NHL schedule page lists Games 5 through 7, if necessary, for May 29, May 31 and June 2. Broadcast partners for the Eastern series are TNT, HBO Max, truTV, Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports, according to the league’s schedule release. ### Who is waiting on the other side? (nhl.com) The Carolina Hurricanes are the confirmed Eastern Conference finalist and will open the series at home regardless of whether Buffalo or Montreal advances. NHL.com said Carolina earned that position after eliminating the Philadelphia Flyers and is in the East final for the second straight season and the third time in four years. (nhl.com) Jaccob Slavin told NHL.com that Carolina’s approach was to “take it one step at a time,” while coach Rod Brind’Amour said the club had already managed a long layoff between rounds once this postseason. Those comments came before the Hurricanes learned whether they would face the Sabres or Canadiens. (nhl.com) ### When does the next round start, and where can fans track it? Monday’s Game 7 is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center, and NHL.com lists Thursday, May 21, as the date for Game 1 of Hurricanes against Sabres or Canadiens in Raleigh. The league’s conference-finals schedule page carries the full Eastern and Western dates, television windows and any necessary Games 5 through 7. (nhl.com)